Absence of doctors in Mandi hospitals irks Rao

Mandi, Apr 22 (UNI) Former Himachal Pradesh minister and senior Congress leader Rangila Ram Rao today lamented at the absence of specialist doctors in Sarkaghat and Baldawara hospitals and said this was causing hardship to the people of these areas.

''As against a sanctioned strength of 16 specialist doctors, there are only six doctors in these hospitals,'' he said at a press conference here.

Mr Rao said about two lakh people in the area were being denied of health facilities due to the lack of doctors and other specialists.

''The large scale transfer of doctors and specialists on political considerations by the state BJP Government without filling the vacancies has thrown the health services out of gear in the sub-division,'' he said.

''Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had announced on assuming power that no revengeful postings and transfers would be ordered and government would refrain from 'Badla Badli', but it was doing just the reverse,'' he added.

UNI XC AS PS JT PM1835